One day at a time for Faulkner

CRICKET: Tasmanian all-rounder James Faulkner made his Test debut in the drawn final Ashes clash at The Oval last month.

He's likely to retain his place for November's return series opener in Brisbane with paceman Mitchell Starc now ruled out for a

"prolonged period" with a back injury.

But Faulkner (pictured) is not thinking about that - there is a one-day series to be won in England first.

And he's confident Australia can follow England's Ashes example and build on their early advantage in the five-match series. After the opening match was washed out, Australia went 1-0 up after the 88-run win at Old Trafford on Monday.

Australia could not get back into the Ashes after England clinched the opening Test and went on to win the series 3-0, and Faulkner believes Monday's win gives his side valuable momentum for the remaining matches.

"Any time you play a series, whether it's in one-dayers or Tests, the first few games really dictate how it is going to go," he said ahead of tonight's clash at Edgbaston.